The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-10-27

70 rue ou utFsttANh w r"tfNt' ~ 'ht w
ginning Of The term. through The slmos
lrsckless forests, carrying their books sn'
clothing in saddle bags. Some one mus
take care Of and feed their horses durin
the term. and this was one Of the man.
ways by which Capt Davis bad added /,
his soaDty supply Of money.
When Reuben reached hone. he pause,
for momerl on the threshold. surprised
At the unusual sigh, which met his eyes
The kitchen as usual was sposlessly clean
The fire burned brightly 10 the great opel
fireplace. pot Of stesmiug bot bean pcr
ridge swung from the crane. and 10 bake
kettle before lbe FIRE johnny cake wa
baking
But Mother DAVIS sat crfing Reube,
had never seen his mother cry before. =
Capt Davis looked pale aud stern, Poll,
and Sally looked on with consternaiio,
10 their faces. and the great chest in wbici
all the family treasures were kept stood
open aud the contents we're slrewd abou
the floor. / don't see bow II could hav,
happened. sobbed Mother Davis; I've
never left the house alone as know OF.
Don't you remember, mother, that yor
walked up the road q piece the other even
ing, when the Gov got out p ssid Polly
well | want gone but a minute,
''lt was long enough for the mischief tc
be done, said Capt. Davis.
bat who could have taken il p asked
sally.
IL don't know as it makes much differ
ence who took 1t; the moneys gone. Aud
day after tomorrow 1t was to have been
paid. Unless we can find it, | am afraid
we shall lose the place. "
Cant you borrow it somewhere = ask
ed the wife.
Il don't think much OF borrowing; and
besides, ] don't know where could get it.
Don't You think maybe some OF the
boys took it. for fun p asked Polly.
"Oh, no. said Reuben, coming forward
now for the first time II am sure they
didn't"
"Oh, you're there, are you ?" said his
father sharply. "Well, you see what has
The moneys gone. ! didn't
mean any OF you boys should know 1t just
yet, and, since yoa have found it out your.
self, you may keep it to yourself"
Il won't say word about it, sir, until
you give mo leave" said Reuben. "Did
they take the mitten ?"
The money was kept in a bne and white
striped mitten.
"Yes; small loss that is beside the mon.
ey. What did yon want Of the mitten?'
II only thought" said Reuben, 'that il
they took the mitten and we should find it
again. it might help us to find the money.
"Mebbe it would" replied bis father.
''You look sharp for mitten, will you ?"
Pretty soon the other boys came in, and
The simple supper was served and eaten
quickly. Then Capt. Davis brought out
The great Bible and read chapter, and
,ffered feryent prayer; and then the
|amily began to prepare for bed.
There were but two rooms in the Davis
arm house; the big kitchen or living
room, in which the cooking was done, and
where bed for Mr.. and Mrs. Davis stood
md smaller room opening from it,where
he loom upon which Mother Davis wove
was "set up" and which also held bed
or Polly and Sally. There was a trundle-
bed for the little ones, Ira and David, in
he kitchen, which was rolled under the
zig bed out OF the way during the day
md pulled out into the middle Of the
DOM at night. Over all was the lott,
cached by ladder and trap door from
be kitchen, where the older boys slept.
Nathan and Moses sat down by their
window after bidding the family good
light, and waited until everything was
till. Then they crept softly through the
window, out upon the roof Of little shed
ghich adjoined the kitchen, and from that
wing themselves to the ground. Reuben
sbo had been feigning sleep. quickly
ollowed, and, keeping well out OF sight !
an along little distance behind, until
hey were joined by the other boys and
ad reached the cabin. Even then, he
'ailed outside until they had struck
igbt and started fire; aud then be walk
d boldly in. Moses laughed loudly.
"If you amt here, Reub !" he said Il
new you'd do it.
What business have you here ?'growl-
d Nathan. You Just 60 back where
on came from.
"Shsnt." said Reuben. composedly. ~
uess this Is q free country, and | have as
God right 10 the road MS you have -or
lis cabin either Go back yourself il you
ont like it.
Hiram and Josiah shouted.
"Renb is ahead again" said the latter.
Here, Renb, take bold and shell some
,rp." said Hiram.
~s<bsn. muttering that be "wished the
. ~oaIi catch and eat Reuben, began
's' batternnts vigorously; and for
cA'ps " we're too intent upon eat
ims the bo. 70 talk. Reuben grew
70 nna ''me teurled himself up 10
epy very soon, al "a abimnev made
orner, where the h. ...dsd him from
angle 10 the wall and 81 ,.IolI. ,a,l
bright freight. and
sep. ,pstites
Is the older boys found their q, ~
butternuts and popped corn dimin
!. they began to tell stories, TO keep n.
ir spirits and pass away time. 1t was
lie natural, but not very wise. that they b
'uld choose ghost stories; and one boy /
" another told some blood cardling q
until their hair stood up al most